“Have you ever considered strength training without weights???”
Want to get stronger in your core lifts?
What about getting rid of fat and developing lean muscle mass faster?
Would you like your strength training program to improve balance and coordination?
If you have spent any time researching how to develop functional strength and power, you will quickly realize that speed of movement is as important the force associate with that movement. Interestingly, the real strength experts are now using resistance bands more and more to develop power in their athletes.
If you are struggling to improve your strength and power with traditional weight training, maybe it’s time to give bands a try. The benefits of resistance band training for strength are UNLIMITED.
“Here are 10 reasons to consider strength training without weights, and implementing band training instead.”
Movement isn’t just up and down
Strength training using resistance bands allows you to become less depend on gravity. Resistance bands are not gravity dependent like dumbbells, free weights, kettlebells or medicine balls. Relative to function these tools can really only provide resistance along a vertical force vector. Resistance bands can effectively provide resistance along a horizontal, vertical, rotational and diagonal force vector as well as combination of these. Since muscle work in all planes, it makes sense we better train all of them if we want optimal performance and movement efficiency.
Ever try stretching with a Dumbbell??
Resistance bands are a great dynamic stretching tool that helps eliminate those tight hips and shoulders that are going to develop as we grow older. “Trust me, I see it in the physical therapy clinic everyday”. To stay functional we must be able to maintain mobility, especially through our hips and shoulders.
Stretching with resistance bands keeps our joints healthy and moving without pain.
Get lean and start looking great guickly ??
You must remember muscles have fibers that go in multiple directions. Therefore training in multiple planes of motion (not just in one plane like with machine or free weights) will impact the entire muscle and create leaner, longer and functionally stronger muscles.
Get the whole muscle not just part of it!!
Is losing Fat the goal??
Losing fat starts with speeding up your metabolism. The best way to accomplish this is by performing total body movements using a circuit based training approach. Resistance Band Training circuits make every exercise a total body exercise and therefore burn 30% more calories than any machine based circuit.
Yes you can do the same thing with a db sometimes but can you do things like power skipping, resistance runs, or true horizontal pushing with a db???
Portability, Portability, Portability
Resistance bands are portable. So train outdoors, on business trips, at home, at the park, or during your bike ride or morning run. The success of a training program comes down to consistency and convenience. If you don’t do it, you don’t get results and if you are an “On the Go” person, like many of us, convenience is critical to getting in our workouts.
Bands eliminate the “No Facility, No Time and No Equipment” excuse and don’t worry they can kick your butt if you need them to.
Deceleration before Acceleration…Right?
Bands elastic properties speed up deceleration on every exercise and since you are training functional movement, you become a stronger controller of deceleration with every rep.
Free weights are great for acceleration and vertical vector deceleration. However they do not speed up deceleration in all planes of motion.
Why is deceleration so important?? 95% of all injuries are a result of deceleration.
Changing direction is what drives results….Period!!!
Muscles don’t think, they just react. Changing the direction of movement causes muscles to constantly react and adapt. That means better results and a greater need for stabilization strength.
Using multi-directional band training will never let your muscles become comfortable regardless if they are the stabilizer or the dynamic mover.
So you have never strength trained before… No Problem!!
Resistance bands allow you to learn in the privacy of your own home at resistance levels a 9 year old can handle. Starting with a few basic beginner strength training exercises will allow you to learn at your own pace and not risk injury.
Than when you are feeling comfortable all you need to do is step out further to increase the resistance.
I hate changing the weight on every set.. How about You??
Strength training is necessary if you like the idea of developing better muscle tone, strength and burning fat. Strength training with resistance bands eliminates the intimidating weight room atmosphere and allows you to easily add resistance by simply adjusting the stretch on the band.
Can you imagine how much time you save not having to change weights?
Tired of adding all that weight to the bar??
Lifting heavy overtime does not agree with our aging body. Strength training without weights may not be the answer but what about strength training with weights and bands? Can you imagine what type of work load is created when you do lunges with dbs and bands or Front Squats with a barbell and bands or Deadlifts with a Barbell and bands. Can you imagine how much easier it is on your body not having to load it up with all that weight??
